Student Profile: Learning the Business

Alex Acree '08
Joint degree candidate, Yale Law School

It's really been an amazing first year at SOM.

I came to Yale as a law student, and I found myself very much interested in the business aspects of law — corporate law, international transactional law, real estate law, securities law, and bankruptcy law.

It was in the context of those classes that I realized I could benefit from an intensive study of business. So, I applied to SOM, and I’ve just finished my first year.

I had the opportunity to tell the Dean just a few weeks ago that I feel very fortunate to have had this educational opportunity at SOM. This year stands out as one of the finest educational experiences of my life, broadening my vision of the role of business in society and refining my understanding of the direction I want to go with my life.

I've always been the sort of person to get enjoyment out of learning about a lot of different fields. In that regard the core curriculum is perfectly designed for me. On any given day I can delve into operations — I loved Operations and I think Art Swersey's a great professor; reflect on innovation, organizational behavior, and human resources; and pursue electives in finance and accounting.

The opportunity to grapple with the essential elements of a successful business all at the same time has also helped me with entrepreneurial projects I’ve been involved with this year. In a young company with a small amount of human resources, having a healthy understanding of the interactions among a business’ critical components adds a lot of value.

This summer I'm going to be working in India to help start a legal services company. After I graduate next year, I will have the opportunity to go in many directions, but one thing’s for sure: I will take a lot with me when I leave SOM.

Interviewed on May 4, 2007.